John Franklin Corliss

John Franklin Corliss, born March 26, 1931 in Yakima, Washington, was the second of three children born to Harold and Lucille Corliss. He lived a full life of traveling and adventure. John was married to D. Jane Corliss for almost 60 years. They have two children, Scott Corliss and Lynn Corliss; and three grandchildren, Monica Corliss, Andrew Corliss and John Burnham. John’s brother, Jim Corliss, lives in Prosser, Washington. John is preceded in death by his grandparents, Nan and John V. Whitehair; older sister, Barbara Ann Corliss; his brother’s wife, Jean Corliss; and niece, Polly Head-Corliss. John received his undergraduate degree from Washington State University and his master’s and PhD in soil sciences from Iowa State University, where he met his wife, Jane. He worked for the United States Forest Service in Portland, Oregon, Atlanta, Georgia and Washington D.C. for 25 years. He was a member of the Soil Science Society of America, Master Gardeners Club and Obsidians Hiking Club of Eugene, Oregon, and the Nature Conservancy. His hobbies included fishing, camping, white-water rafting, drift boating, trolling for salmon, hiking, home renovations and traveling. John will best be remembered by his friends and family as an adventurer and environmentalist. He was the happiest while on the water, whether it be fishing, drifting or paddling. He had a 20-foot dory boat that he would launch from the beach at Pacific City, Oregon in the summers to troll for salmon. When on land, he was known for being able to spot exposed arrowheads and Native American artifacts. He took his family to Mexico, through the Everglades Wilderness Waterway, Canada, Equador, around S. America and beyond. Some of his best-loved memories were being part of a crew on a trawler boat going through the Panama Canal and getting to go on a Bushman safari in Africa. His infectious love and knowledge of the plants and geology of the Northwest will be sorely missed. He was a mentor to many, and a beloved father and grandfather to his family. The Celebration of Life will be on Sunday, April 12, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Olympia, 2315 Division Street NW, Olympia, WA 98502; http://ouuc.org/. Donations may be made in honor of John Corliss at one of the following non-profit organizations: (1) Capital Land Trust, 209 4th Ave. E, Suite 205, Olympia, WA 98501, (360) 943-3012, http://www.capitollandtrust.org/. (2) Nisqually Land Trust, 1420 Marvin Rd. NE, Suite C, PMB 243, Lacey, WA 98516, 360-489-3400, [email protected], http://nisquallylandtrust.org/. Please leave memories of John or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.